ventricular fibrillation

American  

[ven-trik-yuh-ler fib-ruh-ley-shuhn] / vɛnˈtrɪk yə lər ˌfɪb rəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

Pathology.

1. a cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, caused by rapid, chaotic electrical impulses to the ventricles: prevents the heart from pumping blood normally, which leads to a complete loss of blood pressure and pulse, followed rapidly by death if not treated. VF, VFib.

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Etymology

Origin of ventricular fibrillation

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Mr McKeown, who is 37, was taken to Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, where they discovered he had suffered a ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest, which is when the heart quivers instead of pumping normally.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2023

Caffeine overdoses can cause primary cardiac arrests in the form of ventricular fibrillation, which is different from sudden cardiac arrest.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 26, 2023

If the impact is strong enough and occurs at a specific moment between heartbeats, it can send the heart into an erratic, disorganized rhythm called ventricular fibrillation.

From Washington Post • Jan. 3, 2023

As Harmon noted, speculation has been that Hamlin may have suffered what is called commotio cordis, when blunt trauma to the heart leads to ventricular fibrillation.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 3, 2023

When he developed ventricular fibrillation, a heart rhythm abnormality that can be fatal within minutes, the problem was quickly fixed.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times